US and Australian swimmers dominate in Indianapolis

Paralympic champions make big splash on day one of World Series. 10 Jun 2017
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McKenzie Coan - USA swimmer

USA's swimmer McKenzie Coan

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By IPC and US Paralympics

"...it gives me a lot of confidence going into this summer being able to go out there knowing how many yards I’ve already done this week"

The USA and Australia dominated on day one of the penultimate World Para Swimming World Series, which got underway in Indianapolis, USA on Friday (June 9).

US swimmers Rebecca Meyers, McKenzie Coan and Ellie Marks all won the events they captured gold in at Rio 2016, in what is a good indicator of their form ahead of the World Championships in Mexico City at the end of September.

Meyers (4:30.95) continued her excellent form in the World Series as she cruised in the women’s 400m freestyle S13 over teammate Madeleine Babcock (6:02.05).

Twenty-year-old Coan (5:19.84) made her season debut in dominating fashion to win the women’s S7 equivalent, followed up by Canada’s Tess Routliffe (5:50.83) and the USA’s Abigail Gase (7:06.08).

“This is my first Paralympic meet since the Games,” Coan said. “My goals coming here, I wanted to have solid swims and be feeling good in the water while still at high-level training. But it gives me a lot of confidence going into this summer being able to go out there knowing how many yards I’ve already done this week.”

Following her Paralympic debut, Marks continued to showcase her strength in the women’s breaststroke SB7, touching the wall in 1:29.45. Australia’s Tiffany Thomas Kane – Paralympic champion in the SB6 class – was second with a time of 1:34.25, and Canada’s Camille Berube (1:44.45) came in third.

Australia’s Rio 2016 silver medallist Blake Cochrane (1:17.37) had no trouble winning the men’s 100m breaststroke SB7. The USA’s Lucas McCrory (1:40.61) and Joseph Peppersack (1:41.21) claimed the final podium spots.

Australia also had a great day in the pool.

In the women’s 400m freestyle S9, Rio 2016 runner-up Ellie Cole (4:51.06) and Maddison Elliott (5:08.55) finished first and third. Great Britain’s 13-year-old Toni Shaw showed promising talent as she split the Australians on the podium, finishing in 4:56.59 for second place.

Rio 2016 bronze medallist Daniel Fox (1:59.34) and Jack Ireland (2:01.35) pushed each other to the wall in the men’s 200m freestyle S14, with Canada’s Gordie Michie (2:05.54) rounding off the podium.

The World Para Swimming World Series in Indianapolis continues Saturday (10 June) with 50m and 100m backstroke, 150m and 200m individual medley, and 50m freestyle events, and concludes on Sunday (11 June).

Complete results are available online.

The final World Series will take place in Berlin, Germany, from 6-9 July, the last major competition before the World Para Swimming Championships, the biggest swimming event outside of the Paralympic Games, held 30 September – 6 October.